Daily Devotional Sunday 30th August 2020
by William Moody
Numbers 20:14–21
Edom Refuses Passage
14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: “Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that we have met: 15 how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time. And the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and our fathers. 16 And when we cried to the LORD, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. And here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory. 17 Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, or drink water from a well. We will go along the King’s Highway. We will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.” 18 But Edom said to him, “You shall not pass through, lest I come out with the sword against you.” 19 And the people of Israel said to him, “We will go up by the highway, and if we drink of your water, I and my livestock, then I will pay for it. Let me only pass through on foot, nothing more.” 20 But he said, “You shall not pass through.” And Edom came out against them with a large army and with a strong force. 21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel turned away from him.
(ESV)
As the Israelites seek to travel to the Promised Land the main route would have been along the King’s highway through the land of Edom. A message is sent to the King of Edom seeking permission to pass (v14-17).
Edom are called the brother of Israel (v14) because the Edomites were descended from Esau the brother of Jacob (Israel). There is also an appeal for mercy after what the Israelites endured and how God delivered them from Egypt (v15-16). The Israelites promised to pass straight through the land and not to take from it in anyway (v17).
The response from Edom is uncompromising (v18). Again Israel appeals for a reasonable accommodation of their needs (v19) which resulted in another refusal and the Edomites coming out in force (v20).
The Edomite opposition to God’s people would ultimately result in God’s judgment. The book of Obadiah is all about this. But let’s remember how it all started, one man Esau having no regard for his birth right or God’s grace in his life. He led a whole nation astray. The final Edomites we come across in the Bible are the family of King Herod who opposed Christ and His followers. Let’s be so aware that our actions will affect future generations.
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